California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

A three-year starting center, Robert Jones '97 played for the men's basketball team under former head coaches Jim Boone and Bill Brown, from 1993-94 through 1996-97.

A two-time, first-team all-conference selection, Jones helped the Vulcans compile a 92-29 cumulative record and a 38-10 PSAC West mark during his career. 

Jones is the fourth Vulcan men's basketball player from his era to receive the University's highest athletic honor, joining teammates Chad Scott ´93, Candice Pickens, and Derrick Scott ´97. He was understandably pleased when Brown notified him about the Hall of Fame honor.

"I was really shocked because Coach Brown and I had talked a couple years ago that with a few players from my era already in that it would be very difficult to get inducted and I kind of figured I probably would not get in so I was very pleasantly surprised when I got the call from him," Jones said.  

"I really am looking forward to this."

After appearing in 29 of Cal's 30 games during his freshman year, Jones averaged more than eight points and five rebounds per game as a sophomore. He concluded his sophomore season by scoring 10 points in the NCAA East Regional Championship. 

In 1995-96, his junior year, Jones averaged more than 16 points and nine rebounds per game and led the PSAC in field goal percentage (62.7 percent). The Vulcans finished that season with a 27-6 overall record, which included winning the PSAC and NCAA East Regional titles and advancing to the national semifinals. 

Jones was named to the 1996 East Regional all-tournament team after averaging 21 points and 11 rebounds during victories over Edinboro and IUP. He also produced a 24-point, 12-rebound effort in Cal U's 10-point upset of third-ranked Alabama A&M in the Elite Eight.

"A lot of things come to mind when I look back and when you talk about championships you always hear there was a lot of camaraderie and that was certainly the case with the Final Four team," Jones said. "We were a tight-knit team and did almost everything together. We really were a family."

In his senior season, Jones averaged more than 15 points and eight rebounds per game, propelling the Vulcans to their seventh-consecutive PSAC Tournament appearance. For the second year in a row he was the PSAC's second-leading rebounder.

During Jones' time with the team, the Vulcans made four PSAC Tournament appearances, competed in three NCAA Tournaments, won two PSAC Championships and advanced to the program's second Final Four.

The prolific post-player finished his career with 1,285 points and 713 rebounds, totals that still rank sixth and 16th in school history. 

According to Brown, who coached the Vulcans for 20 years before retiring after the 2015-16 season, Jones' individual statistics, though impressive, do not truly reflect the 6-foot-5-inch center's body of work.

"This was his time and he certainly has many qualifications and played on some great teams," said Brown. "Rob did all the dirty work and sacrificed his scoring for rebounding and to anchor our defense. Often he was under-height, but never undersized, and was always an inside presence night in and night out.

"He was our junkyard dog and always put the team first."

Jones enjoyed playing for both Brown and Boone, a 2005 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee, who still coaches at the collegiate level.

"They were both great coaches with different personalities," Jones recalled. "Coach Boone really motivated you, wanted things done a specific way, while Coach Brown wanted you to play in a basic system but gave you the opportunity to freestyle more and do more things that a big man may not normally do.

"It was a great experience."

One of many memories for Jones was preparing for the 1996 East Regional and eventually playing IUP four times that year and the previous two seasons due to both teams' post-season success. 

"During the week of practice I kept missing dunks and Coach Boone told me if I can't make it just lay it up," Jones said. "So in the championship game's first possession I get the ball in the post, make a move, turn-around and dunk it in. I wanted to turn around and point at Coach Boone but I was afraid he'd pull me if I did. 

"It's funny but that sticks in my head."

Boone laughed when he was told Jones' story and said the center was perfect fit for Cal's program and one of the nicest individuals he ever coached.

"But make no mistakes about it, when he stepped on the court, Robert was a relentless competitor whose ability to defend and rebound, along with his unselfish giving of himself to his team, made him a most important part of that 1996 Final Four team," Boone said.   

Jones earned his bachelor's degree in computer-based systems management in 1997.  He then received additional training at the Total Technical Institute of Cleveland.

For the past 17 years, he has worked for the city of Cleveland as the network and data center operations manager at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

"Without a doubt what I learned at Cal U, coupled with my experience at the technical school, was a very good fit for when I entered the IT field and has helped propel me to where I am now," Jones said. 

Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he was a three-time All North Coast and three-time Most Valuable selection at Trinity High School, where he finished as the boys basketball team's career-leading scorer (1,120), top shot blocker (187) and second-leading rebounder (751). 

The teen set a single-game school record for points (44) and rebounds (30) at Trinity, and he was named a McDonald's National All-America nominee after averaging more than 17 points and 13 rebounds per game as a high school senior. 

Jones and his 17-year daughter, Jayda, reside in Strongsville, Ohio, where he still plays competitive basketball in a 35-and–older-league. 

He frequently returns to campus to see the Vulcans play and participate in various functions such as Alumni Basketball Day and has helped recruit players, including former standout Damon Taylor ´02.

"Most important to me is that Rob has always been accountable on and off the court and an excellent representative of the university," Brown said.  "He has stayed available, connected and helpful to the program. "

updated 04/17/17